Douglas guesses correctly to save from Luis Figo
Pauleta knocks home goal number two for Portugal
Anderson is stretchered off against Portugal
In sodden conditions Pauleta scores twice in the opening 17 minutes
Scotland were outclassed for long spells in Braga
Douglas saved Figo's penalty	Simao drifts past Anderson and Alexander
Scotland will take heart from a battling performance
Berti Vogts was also angered by the incident

Portugal 2, Scotland 0
Pauleta (8, 17)
20 Nov 2002
Primiero de Maio Stadium, Braga
Att: 8,000

Pauleta makes friendly a damp squib

GLENN GIBBONS at Primiero de Maio Stadium

AS A GUIDE to what may be expected in Portugal at Euro 04, Scotland’s visit to the Premiero de Maio Stadium in Braga last night was as useful as a map of Spain. In conditions which only live television could sanction - referees nowadays seem to be secondary in deciding the fitness of pitches these days - the friendly which Berti Vogts hoped would toughen his emergent side for demanding future assignments instead merely exposed them to the risk of pneumonia.
 

No amateur with a smidgeon of pride in his game would agree to play on a surface that was, by any definition, waterlogged after days of virtually incessant, teeming rain, the deluge seeming to intensify in the hour before kick-off.
 

In the circumstances, it was hardly surprising that the Scots should find themselves trailing by two goals before they were able to adapt to a surface on which even passes that were grossly over-hit more often than not finished behind the intended recipient, simply screeching to a halt, like a vehicle making an emergency stop.

Until the first of Pauleta’s goals, the Portuguese were also victims, and it was difficult to tell whether the ball from Sergio Conceicao which led to that opener was actually intentional. Having taken possession on the right after Luis Figo had missed the ball when attempting a cross, the Inter player drove it powerfully towards the Scots goal.

Robert Douglas, who would distinguish himself with a truly extraordinary save from Figo’s penalty soon after, would have had it covered had not Pauleta arrived to drive the ball over the line from only four yards’ range.
 

It was before Pauleta scored his second that Portugal were awarded the penalty, one that was utterly free of dubiety when Lee Wilkie, curiously, stuck out a hand to contact a diagonal cross from Simao Sabrosa, an offence for which he was cautioned. Figo struck the ball as far to the right of Douglas as seemed possible, but the big Celtic goalkeeper showed exceptional agility and quickness to make the save.

He was not given much chance of repeating the feat when Pauleta, released on a pass from Figo and chased by Maurice Ross, won the race about 14 yards from goal and calmly slipped the ball wide of the advancing goalkeeper.

That pronounced advantage may have been no more than anyone would have expected of a Portuguese side replete with some of the most celebrated talents in the European game against a Scotland team still trying to emerge from years of decline. Indeed, on a perfect playing surface, perhaps the half-time deficit would have been even greater than two goals.

 

But there was a nonsensical element to the match which rendered serious analysis both irrelevant and, in any case, unfair. In addition, the visitors had to overhaul their tactical formation when they lost Russell Anderson after a collision of heads with Fernando Meira in the 22nd minute.

The Aberdeen defender was replaced with midfielder Derek McInnes, but Christian Dailly, who had been shaping as their most influential presence when running powerfully between midfield and attack, was withdrawn into the heart of the defence as Vogts changed from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 formation.

It was not until eight minutes before the interval that the Scots produced the move that came close to cutting the deficit in half. Stevie Crawford supplied Graham Alexander and, from around 25 yards out to the right of goal, the Preston North End wing-back delivered a ferocious low drive which prompted a good save from Quim.

Even the easing of the rain for some of the second half did not appreciably lighten the burden, the surface water replaced by deep, holding mud which made mobility a trial. The Portuguese, generally lighter on their feet, managed, predictably, to make progress more quickly and dangerously.

It was something of a mystery that Rui Costa should fail to extend the lead to three when he received a low centre from the right and, from only six yards’ range, wheeled to send his low shot wide of Douglas’s right-hand post.

By then, Vogts had replaced Alexander with Paul Devlin and, after 68 minutes, took off Lambert, as promised, and sent on Gareth Williams.

Agostinho Oliveira, his rival in the home dug-out, made a clutch of changes, including the withdrawal of Figo and Pauleta.
 

If this was meant to be a show of mercy, it did not look it, as they were replaced by Nuno Gomes and Marco Ferreira, another menacing pair, in attack. The former had an opportunity to do some damage when he rose unchallenged to meet Conceicao’s cross from the right, but his downward header hit Steven Pressley on the heel and was eventually cleared.

 

As an exercise in giving some of his fringe players some of the experience he insists they need, Vogts himself would doubtless realise that not much could be expected in the circumstances. In this regard, there would be no disappointment.

On a night when it would be virtually impossible to establish or enhance a reputation, Douglas was the one who managed the latter, making a number of interventions which included not only the penalty save, but one from a powerful drive from Conceicao near the end which prevented more misery among the hard-pressed Scots.

Portugal: Quim (Nelson 89), Rocha, Jorge (Ribeiro 58), Meira, Tiago (Assis 83), Couto, Figo (Marco Ferreira 46), Pauleta (Nuno Gomes 46), Sabrosa (Neca 78), Rui Costa (Mendes 58), Sergio Conceicao.
Subs Not Used: Ricardo Silva, Sergio.
Booked: Couto.

Scotland: Douglas, Anderson (McInnes 24), Pressley, Wilkie (Severin 83), Graham Alexander, Lambert (Williams 68), Dailly, Naysmith, Ross (Devlin 46), Dobie (Kyle 78), Crawford.
Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Davidson, Caldwell, Neil Alexander.
Booked: Wilkie.

Ref: V Angehelinei (Romania)

Scotland boss Berti Vogts felt the performance in Portugal was another step in the right direction despite the scoreline.

An early brace from Pauleta sent the visitors to their first defeat in four, but after seeing his side 2-0 adrfit inside 17 minutes, the German was more than satisfied with his side's performance in Braga.

He told Sky Sports: "This was good because we started nervously. It was a big step to play against a very strong team and one of the favourites for Euro 2004. "It was a very good experience. We stayed in position better and, after 20 minutes, we did not play badly. And to get two or three chances in an away game against a good team is not bad.

Christian Dailly was equally impressed with the way Scotland bounced back from a dreadful start to keep the scoreline down to 2-0. And the West Ham man believes they are on the right track under Vogts, who has gelled a young squad together despite being hampered by injuries and withdrawals.

He told Sky Sports: "I think we did pretty well but we gifted a couple of goals away. They handled the pitch better a bit better but when we got into the game we started to cause them more problems. We did okay and there were plenty of positives.

"It is great for us to be playing against these players. I think we did ourselves a lot of credit and it was a great experience. I think we are playing more as a team now. We did well and there is definitely something for us to continue to build on. We now seem to have a more settled team, a settled squad and settled ideas. It is great for Scottish football."

Dailly furious after spat